ROBUSTO is the culinary vision of the duo of renowned restaurateurs and chefs Kari “Kape” Aihinen and Olli Kolu, based on classic gastronomy that captures the flavors of the seasons through simple and authentic flavors. Here they don’t resort to artifice, but let the rich flavors and hospitable service speak for themselves.
ROBUSTO is located in one of Helsinki’s most prestigious neighborhoods Punavuori on Telakkakatu Street and is designed to integrate the restaurant into the lively and creative atmosphere of the place.
The building that houses the restaurant has a rich history — it was originally built as a cable factory with a unique layout that girdled the entire neighborhood, and later transformed into an exhibition space for the Helsinki University of the Arts.
According to Kari Aihinen, they have been looking for a suitable place for the future project for a long time, they wanted something unusual, but at the same time cozy and atmospheric. When they saw this place, there was no doubt that ROBUSTO would be here.
The restaurant’s design by Fyra pays homage to the past, boldly showcasing various factory features skillfully combined with modern elements: the refined original floor harmonizes with the open technical ceiling and old staircase, the rough textures of the surfaces are juxtaposed with carefully selected lighting, classic furniture, and art installations.
Art, curated by Katja Räsänen from the Helsinki Contemporary art gallery, takes center stage in the restaurant. And works from Ari Tolppanen’s collection further emphasize the building’s involvement in the exhibition purpose and create a unique narrative in keeping with the style of the restaurant.
All these moments create an inviting atmosphere with interesting contrasts and an exciting gastronomic experience with a large open kitchen that acts as a stage for culinary excellence. The kitchen is complemented by an adjoining grand bar counter.
According to Kari and Olli, depending on your mood in ROBUSTO you can have lunch or dinner or just drop by the bar for your favorite cocktail or a glass of wine.
The menu is constantly updated depending on the season and offers classic French cuisine with interesting inclusions of Scandinavian and Japanese cuisine.
We decided to have dinner at ROBUSTO. Kari and Olli, who welcomed us and gave us a small tour of the restaurant, suggested to start our evening with a light aperitif, namely with a specialty cocktail with the same name:
-ROBUSTO 24 (15€)
Gin, Prosecco, peach, lime
From the starters, we emphasized the following items:
-HALIBUT & WHITE ASPARAGUS (19€)
Halibut carpaccio, marinated white asparagus and sake-vinaigrette
-SHIITAKE & HAZELNUT (17€)
Shiitake dumplings, pea miso and aromatic mushroom broth
-BEEF & TRUFFLE (19€)
Beef tartar, kohlrabi and truffle ravigote
For the main course, it’s definitely worth tasting:
-DUCK & UMEBOSHI (38€)
Roasted duck breast, chard and beetroot-truffle purée
And rounding out our dinner was a delicious and light dessert:
-PASSION & YOGURT (14€)
Passion posset, lemon thyme merengue and yogurt
As an accompaniment to the food, it could can be wine, champagne or cocktails. For lovers of non-alcoholic wines, there is also something to surprise yourself.
Robusto
Adress: Telakkakatu 7
00150 Helsinki Finland
Opening hours:
Monday–Friday
Lunch 11:30–14:30
Dinner 16:00–22:00
Bar 16:00–
Saturday
Dinner 16:00–22:00
Bar 16:00–
Instagram: @robustohelsinki
Text: Marina Timo
Photo courtesy: EATWEEKGUIDE
